Machine for button manufacture



Jan. 10, 1939. w J.,KoL v|N 2,143,518

lMACHINE FOR BUTTON MANUFACTURE Filed May 12,'1957 2 sheets-shew 1 27 z3 251257Z? Z 26 j /ff-/- 1. 51 j@ 5 n n .fi/f 52 INVENTOR B{ul1`us0/z`i1/ I ATTREY Jan. lo, J KO| |N v l MACHINE FOR BUTTON MANUFACTURE Filed May 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g@ mr-:

INVENTOR BY; u ATTOR EY f iff Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

lZlhe present invention relates to a machine for use in the manufacture of buttons, and more particularly a machine designed to provide a charge of buttons on a grid-plate in preparation i3 for the coloring and finishing operations.

Heretofore it has been the practice in button manufacture to provide a. charge of buttons for the coloring and finishing operations by placing the buttons on a grid-plate by hand, in order to assure that the buttons were properly arranged with their backs resting on the plate and their faces upward. This practice, it is obvious, consumes considerable time and manual labor, thus impeding production, and necessarily increasing the cost of manufacture.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore to provide a button charging machine, which will eliminate the manual work in placing the buttons on the grid-plate and which will assure the proper position and arrangement of the buttons thereon in preparation for the coloring and finishing operations. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the character described, which is an effective labor saving device and which speeds up production in the manufacture of buttons. A further object oi' the invention is to provide a machine for the purposes aforesaid, which is simple in construction and efiicient in operation. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be pointed out hereinafter and will in part be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

With the above and other` objects in view, the present invention consists of the novel features of construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming an integral part of this specification.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention shown in one operating position;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevational View of my improved machine, shown in another operating position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine in the position shown in Fig; 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a gridplate showing a button placed thereon in the required position;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 on the line 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the middle section of the table of the machine, showing buttons arranged thereon in different positions;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional View of Fig. 6 on the line 1 1;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 6 on the line 8 8;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 on the line 9 9, showing the grid-plate mounted over the table in locked position and illustrating one of the operations of the machine; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the grid-plate and middle table section combined, illustrating the operation of the locking mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the framework of the machine consists preferably of a rectangular shaped table or bed 20 supported by resilient posts 2 I having bases 22 which are secured to the floor.

The top of the table 20 is preferably inclined from aft to fore as shown in Figs. l and 2 and is divided into three transverse sections A, B and C, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The middle section B is hinged to one side of the table 20 by means of hinges 23 and is free to swing upwardly and over on` its side. At the front edge of the table 2|] there is preferably provided a wall 24 which is substantially as wide as the table, and at the rear edge of the table 2G there is provided a wall 25 which is preferably slightly narrower than the width of the table and is indented from the sides thereof. A frame 26 of rectangular shape and of substantially the same area as the top of the table 20 is mounted thereon in such a manner that the wall 25 is positioned intermediate the front and rear walls of the frame, and the side walls of the frame rest in suitable grooves or tracks 20 upon the marginal edges of the table. The frame 26 is thus adapted to slide fore and aft over the top of the table 20. Within the frame 2G and adjacent to the front wall thereof there is -mounted transversely a brush 2l, the bristles of which are adapted to sweep the top of the table. On the outer surface of one of the side walls of the frame 26 and positioned toward the front wall thereof, there is provided a laterally extending finger or pin 28, which, upon rearward movement of the frame 26, serves to engage and move a lever 29, which is pivotally mounted on the side of the table and is held in normal upright position by a tension spring 29a.

The surface of the table 2D is provided with a series of spaced longitudinal ribs 3 which extend over the middle section B of the table top and form a series of channels 3| therebetween. The height of the ribs 30 is preferably equivalent to half of the thickness of a button and the spacing between the ribs is preferably equivalent to substantially the diameter of a button the purpose of which will become apparent as this description proceeds. Within the channels 3| on the middle section B of the table top there is provided a series of circular pockets 32 which are adapted to receive the buttons therein in face downward position and to retain them against displacement, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The depth of the pockets 32 is approximately on half of the thickness of a button. It will thus be observed that the middle section B of the table top constitutes a rack plate for the buttons, and will be referred to as such hereinafter.

The grid-plate G shown in Figs. 4 and 5 consists of a thickness of metal or other suitable material of substantially the same size as the rack plate B, having a series of spaced holes 33 therethrough, the said holes being countersunk to provide seats 34 for buttons placed thereon inv face upward position. The button seats 34 are so arranged and spaced as to register with the pockets 32 on the rack-plate B when the grid-plate G is superposed thereon.

In the course of operating the machine, as will be hereinafter described, it becomes necessary to superpose the grid-plate G on the rack plate B and to lock the two plates together in order to secure them against relative movement as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. For this purpose the rack-plate B is provided with locking mechanism which consists of a pair of dog latches 35 and 36 which are pivotally connected to the underside of the rack-plate by means of integral members 31 and 33 respectively, and are adapted to swing in a plane parallel with the top of the table 20. The latch 35 consists of a lever arm 4U, a lug 35a. which is adapted to engage the underside of the rack-plate B and a lug 3579 which is adapted to extend over and above the grid-plate G. The latch 36 consists of similar lugs 36a and 36h. The rack-plate and grid-plate are held together between the said lugs. A link 39 underneath the rack-plate B is pivotally connected at one end to the latch 35 and at the other end to the latch 3E. In this manner the two latches are simultaneously actuated by the operation of the arm 40 on the latch 35. In Fig. the latches are illustrated in open position by dotted lines and in closed position by full lines.

A power shaft 4| is mounted transversely on the underside of the table within suitable bearings and is driven by a motor M through the medium of a suitable system of transmission as for instance that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 wherein a belt 42 passes around a pulley 43 which is mounted on the shaft 4|. The pulley 43 is loosely mounted on the end of the shaft 4| and is adapted to lock with the shaft by means of suitable clutch mechanism 44 which is controlled by the lever 29, whereby the shaft is adapted to rotate. Mounted on the shaft 4| are also the tight fitting collars 4i which carry weights 45 on the periphery thereof, whereby, upon rotation of the shaft, the centrifugal force of the weights causes shaking of the table 2|).

In the operation of the machine, the compartment 45 formed between the front wall of the frame 26 and the rear wall 25 of the table, is provided with a supply of unfinished buttons in haphazard arrangement. When the frame is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the buttons are maintained over the rear section C of the table top and the finger 28 on the frame has shifted the lever 29 from its normal upright position so as to disengage the clutching mechanism 44 leaving the machine in neutral operating position. When the frame 26 is moved forward by the operator to the position shown in Fig. 1, the buttons in compartment 46 are brought forward over the middle and front sections of the table, and simultaneously the lever 29 is withdrawn by the tension spring 29a to normal upright position thus bringing it in engagement with the clutching mechanism 44 and the shaft 4| is caused to rotate. The rotation of the shaft 4| which carries the eccentric weights 45 causes the table 20 to shake, and the shaking movement of the table causes the buttons on the rack-plate B to fall into the pockets 32. The buttons falling into the pockets in face downward position are retained therein against displacement because the wall of the pocket engages the edge of the button as illustrated by 0 in Fig. 8 and anchors the button within the pocket. Buttons falling into pockets in face upward position are shaken loose by the oscillation of the table due to the fact that the edge of the button projects above the wall of the pocket as illustrated by 0' in Fig. 8 and cannot be retained thereby against displacement. After a few seconds of oscillation of the table the pockets are all filled with buttons in face downward position. The frame 26 is then moved rearwardly by the operator onto the rear section C of the table. By this operation all superfluous buttons are swept to the rear section of the table by means of the brush 27. Should a button on the rack-.plate B be set face upwardly in one of the pockets, it would be swept out by brush 2l. The rearward movement of the frame simultaneously throws the machine into neutral operating position andthe oscillation ceases. The grid-plate G is then mounted by the operator on the rack-plate B and locked thereto by the latches 35 and 36 which are operated by means of the lever 4t. 'I'he combined grid-plate and rackplate are then turned over on its side by upward movement of the lever 40 and deposited on a table 4l alongside of the machine. The latches are then disengaged by the operator and the rackplate is swung back on its hinges to its original position, leaving the grid-plate on the table 4l. The grid-plate is thus provided with a charge of buttons which are set in the seats 34 and arranged in face upward position ready for delivery to the coloring and finishing machine.

Although my present invention is essentially described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is desired to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein shown and described for the purpose of illustration, but that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction which will fall within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine for button manufacture, substantially as describe-d, a table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, means slidable on the table for feeding an excess supply lof buttons thereto, and brushing means carried by said feeding meansengaging the surface of the table for removing the excess buttons after the pockets are filled.

2. In a machine for button manufacture, substantially as described, an inclined table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, a retaining frame slidable on the table containing within its walls an excess supply of buttons, said buttons being fed to the pockets upon downward movement of the frame, and brushing means carried by said frame engaging the surface of the table forV removing the excess buttons upon upward movement of the frame.

3, In a machine for butto-n manufacture, substantially as described, an inclined table having an upwardly projecting wall at the upward end thereof and a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, a retaining frame slidable on the table and forming a compartment with said upwardly projecting wall, an excess supply of `buttons contained within said compartment adapted to be fed to the pockets upon downward movement of the frame, and brushing means carrie-d by the frame adjacent the lower end thereof engaging the surface of the table for removing the excess buttons upon upward movement of the frame.

4. In a machine for button manufacture, substantially as described, a table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to= retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, means` for feeding buttons to said pockets slidable on the table, and means for agitating the table after feeding controlled by the movement of said feeding means.

5. In a machine for button manufacture, substantially as described, an inclined table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, a retaining frame slidable on the table containing within its walls a supply of buttons, said buttons being fed to the pockets upon downward movement of the frame, power driven means for agitating the table, and control means on the frame for actuating said agitating means upon downward movement of the frame and for stopping said agitating means upon upward movement of the frame.

6. In a machine for button manufacture, substantially as described,l an inclined table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapted to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, a retaining frame slidable on the table containing within its walls a supply of buttons, said buttons being fed to the pockets upon downward movement of the frame, means for agitating the table, power mechanism for actuating said agitating means, and control means on the frame for operatively connecting the power mechanism with the agitating means upon downwardV movement of the frame, and for disengaging same upon upward movement of the frame.

7. In a machine for button manufacture substantially as described, an inclined table having a series of spaced pockets on the surface thereof adapt-ed to retain buttons therein in a required uniform position, a retaining frame slidable on the table containing within its Walls a supply of buttons, said buttons being fed to the pockets upon downward movement of the frame, a rotatable shaft adapte-d to agitate the table, a

power driven clutch for rotating said shaft, and

control means on the frame for operatively connecting the clutch with the shaft upon clownward movement of the frame, and for disengaging same upon upward movement of the shaft.

JULIUS KOLIN. 

